Maricopa Jails: Coronavirus Causes Changes In Polices, More

PHOENIX, AZ — As the new coronavirus spreads across Arizona, Maricopa County authorities are working to keep jail inmates safe from the virus. There have been no reported cases of the virus among Maricopa County Jail inmates as of Monday, county officials told Patch. However, some jail procedures have changed to limit the spread of the virus.

Correctional Health Services, the county agency that takes care of health services for the Maricopa County Jail, is taking on additional screening practices to look for coronavirus symptoms and asking about recent travel and other risk factors. CHS staff have no reported cases of the coronavirus, officials told Patch.

Maricopa County Correctional Health Services told Patch they're following precautions recommended by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office released a series of common questions and answers about how they're handling the spread of the coronavirus and keeping jail inmates safe:

Does your incarcerated population have access to soap and water?

• Yes. Each housing unit has soap and water and inmates are able to wash their hands as often as they need.

2) Are volunteers still allowed into the jails?

• No, not for the time being. MCSO is limiting non-employee access to legal or essential operational personnel only.

3) Are family and friends allowed into the jails for video visitation?

• No. Our jail system uses inmate tablet technology for communication with family, friends and other community members.

4) Are legal visits allowed into the jails?

• Yes, legal visits are still taking place through glass partitioned rooms, however, attorneys and/or inmates can request a video visitation instead using inmate tablet technology.

5) Are you cleaning your jail facilities more than usual?

• Yes. MCSO is addressing the appropriate “high-touch” areas with our cleaning staff and vendor.

6) Are there currently any coronavirus cases in the jails?

• Please reach out to Correctional Health Services (CHS).

7) Are you testing inmates and staff for COVID-19?

• Please reach out to Correctional Health Services (CHS), they provide health services to our inmate population. As far as our staff, all MCSO employees have been instructed to stay home if they are sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and contact their healthcare provider. Additionally, if an employee shows up to work with symptoms or develops symptoms while at work, supervisors have been instructed to send them home.

8) Are you keeping inmates up to date with COVID-19?

• Yes. Printed advisories regarding the virus, symptoms and personal hygiene are posted in each housing area. Additionally, inmate tablet technology is used to provide them with information.

9) What is your plan of action if an inmate presents COVID-19 symptoms?

• Special administrative housing would be provided along with medical assessment and treatment by CHS personnel.

10) Do you plan to release inmates in efforts to try to reduce the risks of COVID-19 in the county’s jails?

• Sheriff Penzone recognizes that factors outside of his control such as court delays, suspended inmate programs and potential COVID-19 exposure may complicate the management of the inmate population. He has no intentions on prematurely releasing inmates without judicial directives or satisfaction of legal requirements. Should circumstances obligate him to consider unorthodox steps he will be pragmatic in his decisions. Public safety will always be the dominant influence in his decisions.